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Netball New Zealand’s prudent financial planning was instrumental in enabling Silver Ferns to host the return of international netball.
On Friday, the government granted approval for world champion Silver Ferns to host the gold medalists from the Commonwealth Games in England. All three events will be played at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on October 28, October 30 and November 1.
It will be the first time international netball has been played since the Covid-19 outbreak.
When New Zealand was at level 4 lockdown earlier this year, NNZ CEO Jennie Wyllie feared that her national and international netball program would be ruined by 2020.
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The England tour group will land on October 8 and will be quarantined in Christchurch for the mandatory 14-day period.
Players could train together four days after arriving in the country, depending on all members returning a negative Covid-19 test on the third day. They can train in bubbles of 15 from days four to seven and as a full team after day seven.
As with New Zealand Cricket and other national sports organizations that host touring teams, NNZ would pay for England’s quarantine costs and touring expenses while in the country. The cost of each code is $ 7000 per player for the special quarantine facilities.
NNZ had budgeted carefully knowing that a series of international tests could be a possibility later in the year. They had made the decision to cancel various programs and events in 2020 to cut spending. These included New Zealand Under-21s, New Zealand A’s, High School Nationals, Age Group Nationals, and second-tier Beko League competition.
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
Silver Ferns and England will meet in the first international tests in the sport since the Covid-19 outbreak.
Another key reason some of these events were postponed was travel costs for players and team management, which would have been a huge challenge this year.
“We are able to cover the costs of quarantine because we have been very prudent in terms of our business model before this end of the year because we did not know [what would unfold with Covid-19]. This is how this becomes possible and feasible, ”Wyllie said.
Cutting expenses was crucial to ensuring that NNZ could pay the costs of quarantining England and providing international netball for the Ferns in their homeland. By contrast, Australian diamonds will not play any international tests in 2020, the first time they have not had games in a calendar year since 1984.
“We have made big decisions internally about what shows we needed to stop and where we needed to save to be viable, regardless of whether we would have an international game and that is what we have done.
“We needed to change our business model to ensure that we could still be viable at the end of this year.”
Not having home trials for the Silver Ferns in 2020 after their 2019 Netball World Cup win would have been a crushing blow.
Wyllie was delighted to secure a series against England and said it would allow them to build on last year’s success. NNZ could also satisfy its business partnerships with broadcaster Sky and major sponsors. Under level 1, crowds would be possible in Hamilton and Wyllie was confident that all three games would sell out.
“International netball is back after Covid and for it to be played here in New Zealand, I think it’s fantastic.
“We are incredibly grateful for England. They are the reigning champions of the Commonwealth Games. They face us who are the reigning champions of the Netball World Cup. It is going to be a fantastic battle, but it has also been great to work with England throughout this process, so we are delighted.
Dave Rowland / Getty Images
Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie, pictured with Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, is delighted that Silver Ferns is having netball tryouts at home in 2020.
England coach Jess Thirlby said they would follow every precaution to keep players and coaching staff safe on their trip to New Zealand and in the country. England’s national Super Netball competition was canceled this year due to Covid-19 and the Roses have not played since the Nations Cup in January, which also featured the Silver Ferns.
“As a team, they have come together through these difficult times and I am pleased that they now have the opportunity to gain more international exposure after an unsettling year and as we move towards a Commonwealth Games at home.
“I am incredibly proud of the team and staff for joining the support of England Netball during these unusual times.”
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua was delighted that they had an international series to end the year. It would mark a new era for the Ferns without retired New Zealand captain and netball great Laura Langman, who has ended her illustrious international career, which began in 2005.
“Credit should be given to both respective netball countries for working together to make this happen. I know it has not been an easy season for the English, but this series really marks the start of the next four-year cycle for both countries towards the next Netball World Cup. [in 2023]Taurua said.
The Silver Ferns will not play Australia in the annual Constellation Cup in 2020, but the series is expected to be scheduled early next year.
Ahead of the England series, the Ferns will warm up with a Cadbury Series at Palmerston North against New Zealand men, New Zealand A ‘All Stars’ and New Zealand Under-21s from October 21-24.
